Dutch Open Rules 2027
Date: Saturday 13-02-2027 & Sunday 14-02-2027
Starting time: 10:00 (see timetable below)
Some minor reservations must be made on both the time schedule and the rules. The exact schedule will be posted once the final details of the event are ready. The rules will be finalized a week after the upcoming release of the Night Goblin Team.
Entrance Fee
- €100, this includes a rather luxurious lunch buffet on both days
- Tickets must be bought prior to the tournament on the following website. We currently have 56 tickets available.
- https://www.thresholdtactics.com/products/the-gauntlet-blood-bowl-hosted-by-dutch-open
- An additional 5 euro is charged for non-NAF members. This includes a NAF registration fee for 1 year, and a NAF registration present given at the location that day.
- Your registration is only confirmed after payment is received.
Timetable
Saturday 13-02-2027
- 9:30 - 10:00 Registration
- 10:00 - 12:30 Match 1
- 12:30 - 13:00 Lunch
- 13:00 - 15:15 Match 2
- 15:30 - 17:45 Match 3
Sunday 14-02-2027
- 9:30 - 12:00 Match 4
- 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch
- 12:30 - 14:45 Match 5
- 15:00 - 17:15 Match 6
- 17:15 - 17:45 Price Ceremony
Dutch Open 2027 Rules
The Dutch Open Blood Bowl 2027 follows a Swiss format over two days of play. The rules below describe how teams are built, how rounds are scored, and how the event will be run.
We will be using the 2025 (Season 3) Blood Bowl Rules. Any F.A.Q. and Errata documents published before the 7th of February will be in effect.
This is a tournament following the matched play rules (page 110-111), no SPP are gained, and hatred, injuries, casualties or deaths do not carry on from one game to the next (formerly known as a resurrection style tournament). Players added to a Team roster mid game as a result of the Masters of Undeath or Plague Ridden special rule are removed from the roster at the end of the game and do not carry on to the next game. (Rules on page 112-113 are partially replaced by below.)
Our main goal is to ensure all coaches can focus on having fun, rolling dice, and enjoying great games in good spirit!
Teambuilding - Budget
To create your team you have a budget of gold pieces and skill points depending on tiers.
- Tier 1 - 1070 GP, 13 SP: Amazon, Dark Elves, Orcs, Wood Elves
- Tier 2 - 1100 GP, 14 SP: High Elves, Humans, Necromantic, Norse, Nurgle, Old World Alliance, Shambling Undead, Skaven, Vampire, Underworld Denizens
- Tier 3 - 1120 GP, 15 SP: Black Orc, Brettonian, Chaos Chosen, Chaos Dwarves, Chaos Renegade, Dwarves, Imperial Nobility, Khorne, Lizardmen, Night Goblins (*), Pro Elves, Slann, Snotlings, Tomb Guardians
- Tier 4 - 1150 GP, 17 SP: Gnomes, Goblins, Halflings, Ogres
(*) The roster of Night Goblins is not known yet, so depending on it, their tiering may be changed.
You are allowed to trade skill points for gold (not vice versa) at the cost of 1 skill point for 20 GP.
The money can be spent on:
- Team players
- Re-rolls
- Only 1 Star Player allowed for Tier 4 teams (Ogres, Halflings, Goblins, Gnomes) after purchase of 11 players. No Star Players are allowed for other teams.
- 0-3 dedicated fans 5k
- 0-5 temp agency cheerleaders 5k
- 0-3 part-time assistant coaches 20k
- 0-1 Apothecary 50k for teams that are allowed an apothecary
- 0-1 Wandering Apothecary 100k for teams that are allowed an apothecary
- 0-1 mortuary assistant or plague doctor (if allowed by the team rules) 100k
- 0-1 riotous rookies 150k (for teams with lone cost lineman)
- 0-1 weather mage 25k
- 0-3 Bribes 100k (50k for teams with "Bribery and Corruption")
- 0-1 Halfling Master Chef 300k (100k for halflings)
- 0-2 Kegs 50k
This means no prayers to Nuffle, wizards, team mascots and infamous coaching staff are allowed.
Megastars and AG 1+ stars are not allowed. This currently excludes listed megastars Griff Oberwald, Hakflem Skuttlespike, H'Thark The Unstoppable, Ivan Deathshroud and Morg 'n Thorg, and AG 1+ Star Players Jordell Freshbreeze, Roxanna Darknail and Jeremiah Kool.
After creation of your team, you can use these skill points in the following manner:
- Spend 2 skill points to purchase a primary non-elite skill
- Spend 3 skill points to purchase a primary elite skill
- Spend 4 skill points for a secondary skill
- Spend 5 skill points for a secondary elite skill
You are allowed to stack skills on a player only once. An extra surcharge of 1 skill point is charged on top of the skill points for the max two skills.
Note: Elite skills are marked with a gem icon as indicated in the rulebook on p. 120 and currently includes the Block, Dodge, Mighty Blow and Guard skills.
Disclaimer
Community insights, Games Workshop publications and NAF publications might prompt us to adjust the rules. This may include changes to the team building rules, clarifications on the rulebook or even house rules if needed. At the start of the tournament we will address these and we will make sure to have any changes like these clearly on the website in time for the event.
Tournament Format & Scoring
The Dutch Open Blood Bowl 2026 will be played over six rounds using the Swiss system - three rounds on Saturday and three on Sunday.
Pairing
- Round 1: Random draw - we'll make sure you won't face your league-friends in the first round.
- Rounds 2-6: Swiss pairing, randomised between coaches with the same number of points. Fine details might change due to software possibilities. This will be finalized before the tournament.
- Pairings will be made available 15 minutes before the round starts. Feel free to start when you know your opponent.
Timekeeping
- Both coaches share responsibility for finishing their match within the set time limit (2 hours and 15 minutes per game).
- Using a game clock is highly encouraged. Chess clocks are available at the venue.
- When the round ends (and the Hurry Up Song stops playing) NO MORE DICE MAY BE ROLLED AND NO MORE MINI'S MAY BE MOVED.
- If your game isn't complete, you and your opponent must agree on the final result - or the organisation will make that call.
- We will be strict on time management to keep the tournament running smoothly. If you're using a game clock, the allotted game time is still leading. A game clock is a tool, not a rule.
Scoring
- A win will get you 2 points, a draw is worth 1 point and a loss zero, nilch and nothing. A concession will be recorded as a 2-0 2-0 loss with -4 tournament points. A coach that conceded is ineligible for any award.
Tiebreakers will be applied at the end ranking and won't affect pairings. The tiebreakers are:
- Opponent score (Buchholz -1 if software allows)
- Net TD + Net Cas
- Head to Head
- Best of five dice off
- If all else fails we can resort to good old bribery.
The Dutch Open is built on friendly competition, clear communication, and mutual respect. We expect all coaches to show good sportsmanship and help make every match enjoyable for both players.
Dice & Rolling
- Use dice that can be easily read from a distance.
- Your opponent must always be allowed to roll using your dice if they wish.
- Before starting the game, agree on what counts as a cocked die.
- Probability calculators, odds apps, or digital aids that compute chances are not allowed during matches.
Marking Players & Keeping the Game State Clear
Before starting the game, discuss with your opponent how you will mark players who are Prone, Stunned, Activated, Distracted, or affected by other conditions.
The key point is simple: The state of the game must always be clear to both coaches.
You can use tokens, rubber bands, turning players around, or laying models down - whatever works best for both of you.
If you cannot agree, use the following defaults:
- Activated players: turned around
- Prone players: laid down face up
- Stunned players: laid down face down
- Other conditions (e.g. Distracted, Eye Gouged, Chomped, Take Root, Dodgy Snack, Thrown Player, or Bombs): use tokens or rubber bands colour coded as in the rulebook.
Finally, before you begin, agree on how you handle taking back moves. Again, the goal is that the game state stays clear and correct at all times.
Models & Clarity
- Proxies are not allowed.
- If it looks like a goblin, it should be a goblin.
- Positionals must be easily recognisable, ideally with colour-coded base rings.
- If you're unsure whether your team fits the standard, contact us beforehand.
- If you field a non-painted team, your opponent gains 3 free Prayer to Nuffle rolls for that game. This rule is not optional.
Behaviour & Disputes
- If your team uses rules covered in something else than the main rulebook (Spike magazines and Errata's come to mind) make sure you have those physically on hand.
- Keep it friendly - Blood Bowl is about dice and fun. Keep the drama on the pitch.
- Any dispute that can't be resolved between coaches should be referred to a referee or organiser.
- The referee's decision is final, and always made in the spirit of fair play and maintaining the event's pace.
- Unsporting behaviour may lead to penalties or disqualification.
The Glittering Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded at the end of the event:
- Dutch Open Winner
- Dutch Champion - Highest placed Dutch coach
- Runner-up
- Best Painted Team
- Best rookie (coaches with 5 or less NAF tournaments to their name)
- Best stunty (if three or more stunty coaches apply)
- Most Touchdowns
- Most Casualties
- Wooden Spoon
(Prize categories may be adjusted depending on turnout.)
How to Register
Fill out the registration form at: https://www.thresholdtactics.com/products/the-gauntlet-blood-bowl-hosted-by-dutch-open